Bemidji State University will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the renovation of Memorial Hall in conjunction with its Ninth Annual Community Appreciation Day on Sept. 4.

Memorial Hall Groundbreaking
At 4 p.m., university administrators, faculty and other dignitaries will officially break ground on the Memorial Hall renovation project which began over the summer. The nearly $14 million project, which will transform the second-oldest building on campus into a state-of-the-art home for the university’s business and accounting programs, is part of a strategic construction and renovation plan that will significantly alter BSU’s campus over the next several years. When Memorial Hall is completed, the current Decker Hall home of the business and accounting programs will be renovated into a new student services facility. This change will consolidate BSU’s student services offices in one location and locate them where they can better serve the university’s resident students.

Bemidji State representatives Dr. Richard A. Hanson, president of BSU and Northwest Technical College, Bill Maki, vice president of finance and administration, and Dr. Shawn Strong, dean of the College of Business, Technology and Communications, will be joined by local government officials and other dignitaries for the ceremony.

Community Appreciation Day
Community Appreciation Day is Bemidji State’s way to say “thanks” to the residents of Bemidji and the surrounding communities for all they do to support the university.

The event, which is open to the public at no charge, will begin at 4:30 p.m. at the BSU Pavilion and lake side areas on the BSU campus. Free shuttle bus service from the parking lots at Bangsberg Hall and the John Glas Fieldhouse will begin at 4:15 p.m. Guests parking in the Bangsberg parking lot are encouraged to use the lakefront trail to reach the event.

The event, sponsored by Paul Bunyan Communications, will feature the “A Taste of BSU” featuring an array of food items from local restaurants and organizations, including 4 Kings Comfort BBQ & Catering, ARAMARK, Bemidji Area Alumni Chapter, Big River Scoop, Jimmy Johns, Lueken’s Village Foods, the Minnesota Nice Cafe, Novo, Paul Bunyan Broadcasting/Subway, Pepsi-Nei Bottling and RP Broadcasting.

There will also be a “Meet the Beavers” session where kids can meet student-athletes from BSU’s varsity intercollegiate sports. Student-athletes will be leading a number of interactive games, and Bucky the Beaver will be available for pictures.

In addition, dozens of booths from various campus departments and activities and local businesses and organizations, along with a variety of games for children, balloons and face painting, will be available throughout the evening. Booth spaces are still available; businesses or organizations wishing to participate in Community Appreciation Day are encouraged to call the BSU Foundation at (218) 755-2779.

Other sponsors of Bemidji State University’s Ninth Annual Community Appreciation Day include the Bemidji Pioneer; Paul Bunyan Broadcasting, including radio stations Z99, KB101, KZY 95.5, KBUN 1450, True Oldies 104.5 and Q107; and R.P. Broadcasting, including radio stations Talk 1360, Mix 103.7, Real Country 98.3 and The River 92.1.

Contact
• Lisa Hofstad; director of annual giving, BSU Alumni & Foundation; (218) 755-2872